Furniture connection



Jan. 24, 1967 R. SCHULTZ ,3

FURNITURE CONNECTION Filed NOV. 8, 19 r .1 l. 14 Ci HULTZ m I I (M ATTORNEV United States Patent 3,299,840 FURNITURE CONNECTION Moses Richard Schultz, Barto, Pa., assignor to Knoll Associates, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 8, 1965. Ser. No. 506,760 3 Claims. (Cl. 108-157) This invention relates to a connection, and particularly to a furniture connection. The connection of the invention is provided for joining together two members, such as a leg of an article of furniture and a stretcher for the furniture article.

In the fabrication of furniture, for example, it is necessary to join the legs of an article of furniture to the stretchers of the frame, if the stretchers and the legs are not molded integrally as a single piece. Integral molding of legs and stretchers is not common. The present invention is directed to providing a connection that is sturdy as well as pleasing in appearance.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved connection, typically useful in the fabrication of furniture.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved connection between the legs of an article of furniture and the stretchers of the furniture article.

A further object is to provide an improved table structure.

These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by the use of a stud as one part of the connection. The stud is advantageously elliptical in section and includes a plurality of ribs on an outside surface thereof. Adjacent ribs define a groove therebetween. The other part of the connection comprises a tubular member positioned over the stud, with an inside surface of the tubular member in contact with the ribs of the stud. An adhesive material is employed to secure the stud and the tubular member together and is advantageously positioned in the spaces between the grooves of the stud and the inside surface of the tubular member.

When the legs and stretchers of an article of furniture define a suitable support for a table top, with the stretchers completing a peripheral frame for the table top, the present invention contemplates positioning the table top within the frame so that the edges of the table top are spaced from the frame. Supporting lugs extend inwardly from the frame and are attached to the underside of the table top to support the table top within the frame. The sides of the table top advantageously extend downwardly and inwardly so as to provide a pleasing appearance, while facilitating in the positioning of the table top within the frame.

The invention will be more completely understood by reference to the following detailed description. In the accompanying figures:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an article of furniture, namely a table, embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the table of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the table of FIG. 1, taken along the section line 33 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows of that figure, showing the details of the connection of the table top to the table frame.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 3 showing the details of an alternative form of connection between table top and table frame.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the table of FIG. 1, taken along the section line 55 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the details of a furniture connection embodying the present invention.

3,299,840 Patented Jan. 24, 1967 Referring to FIG. 1, a table 10 is shown having four vertical legs 12. The legs 12 may be solid, or they may be tubular if desired. Each leg 12 is terminated at its upper end by lateral extensions 12a and 12b, each of which extends toward an adjacent leg of the table. Stretchers 14 serve to connect together the legs 12 and to complete a frame for top 16 of the table.

FIG. 2 shows the details of the connections between the stretchers 14 and the vertical legs 12. As will be noted, each leg extension 12a is terminated by a corresponding stud 12a, while all leg extensions 12b are terminated by a corresponding stud 12b. The studs 12a and 12b are advantageously identically formed; FIG. 5 shows a stud 12a in section. Each stud is normally elliptical in section; however, this is arbitrary. The exterior surface of the stud includes a plurality of ribs 20 thereon, adjacent ones of which define a groove 22 therebetween. The ribs and grooves extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stud, although this relationship is not essential. The grooves 22 on the outside surface of the stud provide spaces 24 between the stud and inside surface 26 of the stretcher 14. It should be noted that the ends of the stretchers 14 adjacent to the studs 12a and 12b are tubular so that each stretcher end may be positioned over the corresponding stud, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. The portion of each stretcher 14 between the ends of the stretcher could be solid, however, if desired.

The ribs 20 of the studs 12a and 12b thus formed allow greater manufacturing tolerances regarding the assembly of each stud and its associated stretcher. However, the ribs 20 are normally made slightly oversize so that they are deformed during assembly with the associated stretcher, thus providing a tight fit between stud and stretcher. In addition, the spaces 24 between the grooves 22 and the inside surface 26 of the stretcher are advantageously filled with an adhesive material 28, preferably an epoxy resin, for securing the stud to the corresponding stretcher.

Upon joining all the stretchers 14 to the studs 12a and 12b, the frame of the table is extremely sturdy and rigid. Usually, the surfaces of all of the elements are coated with a paint or other suitable coating material to provide a desired color to the frame. The coating should be thick enough to fill and effectively conceal the joints between the several parts; e.g., joint 30 (FIG. 1) between the leg extension 12b and the associated stretcher 14 should not normally be noticeable. The coating is also desirable to prevent the metal of the frame elements from rusting or otherwise being deleteriously affected by moisture to which the furniture is normally subjected in outdoor use.

As noted above, the elliptical cross section of various of the elements is not absolutely necessary, and elements having other cross sections may be employed. However, .an elliptical cross section such as shown for the stud 12a in FIG. 5 provides maximum strength for supporting the stretcher, While minimizing the total material in all the elements of the frame, thereby reducing the weight and cost of the elements. The elliptical cross section for the stretchers is also generally aesthetically pleasing in appearance in structures of this type.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the details of mounting the table top 16 within the frame of the table. In particular, each vertical leg 12 has secured thereto a lug 32. As shown in FIG. 3 the lug 32 may be threaded at one end thereof, as at 34, so that the lug end may be threaded into the leg 12. The other end of the lug 32 includes a flange 36 which receives a screw 38 or other form of fastener for securing the table top 16 to the lug. As shown in FIG. 3 the table top 16 is formed from a plate 40 which advantageously may be of metal, and which includes a side edge 42 that extends downwardly and inwardly. Beneath the plate 40 is a stiff material 44,

such as plastic foam material, which may add rigidity to the table top. The foam in this instance may be bonded to undersurface 46 of the table top, and the screw 38 may be threaded into the foam material to retain the table top 16 in place.

It will be noted that the table top is positioned within the frame formed by the stretchers 14 and the leg extensions 12a and 12b. The side edges 42 of the table top are spaced from the frame. By providing a downward and inward cant to the side edges 42, not only is a pleasing appearance obtained in the table top construction but also the positioning of the table top within the frame is facilitated.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative form of connection between table frame and table top. In this case each vertical leg 12 is formed with an integral lug 32' extending therefrom in the same fashion as the lug 32 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Table top 16' is formed from a sheet 40' of material, such as steel, which includes downwardly and inwardly extending side edge 42' as well as a horizontal inward extension 47 that rests upon flange 36' of the lug 32'. Stiff material 44' is positioned adjacent to the underside of the sheet 40' to provide rigidity to the structure, and in this case is supported by a sheet 48 of protective material, such as steel. Bolt 38' may be threaded into both the horizontal and inward extension 47 of the table top sheet 40 as well as into the sheet 48 of protective material.

It should be noted that the invention described above involves a connection typically suited for an article of furniture. However, it should also be noted that the connection specifically shown in FIG. 5 is suitable for connecting other members not necessarily forming a part of a furniture article. For example, the stud with its ribs and associated grooves may be used to join any member to another member, such as a Wheel to an axle wherein the axle is supported for rotation. This wheel and axle arrangement has not been illustrated since it is one of many possible forms of connection that may be made by the invention. The invention also involves an article of furniture.

Accordingly, the invention should be taken to be defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. An article of furniture, comprising:

(a) a plurality of vertically extending furniture legs;

(b) each of said legs including a plurality of studs extending laterally toward adjacent legs;

(c) a plurality of ribs on an outside surface of each of said studs, each pair of adjacent ribs defining a groove therebetween;

(d) a plurality of stretchers each connecting together adjacent legs, said stretchers having tubular end portions positioned over said studs with an inside surface of each tubular end portion in contact with the ribs on the corresponding stud; and

(e) an adhesive material positioned in said grooves between adjacent ribs bonding together said studs and said tubular end portions.

2. A table, comprising:

(a) a plurality of vertically extending furniture legs;

(b) each of said legs including a plurality of studs extending laterally toward adjacent legs;

(c) a plurality of ribs on an outside surface of each of said studs, each pair of adjacent ribs defining a groove therebetween;

(d) a plurality of stretchers each connecting together adjacent legs, said stretchers having tubular end portions positioned over said studs with an inside surface of each tubular end portion in contact with the-ribs on the corresponding stud;

(e) an adhesive material positioned in said grooves between adjacent ribs bonding together said studs and said tubular end portions;

(f) said stretchers and said furniture legs forming a frame for a table top;

(g) a table top enclosed by said frame and having side edges spaced from said frame that extend downwardly and inwardly; and

(h) a plurality of lugs extending inwardly from said frame supporting said table top- Within said frame.

3. A table as defined in claim 1, wherein said lugs extend inwardly from and are attached to said vertically extending furniture legs.

References Cited by the Examiner References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1 899 Stover. 7/1952 Homan.

OTHER REFERENCES Knoll Associates, Inc., Catalog, p. 506.

Des. 31,157 Des. 167,146

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

JAMES T. MCCALL, Examiner. 

1. AN ARTICLE OF FURNITURE COMPRISING: (A) A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY EXTENDING FURNITURE LEGS; (B) EACH OF SAID LEGS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF STUDS EXTENDING LATERALLY TOWARD ADJACENT LEGS; (C) A PLURALITY OF RIBS ON AN OUTSIDE SURFACE OF EACH OF SAID STUDS, EACH PAIR OF ADJACENT RIBS DEFINING A GROOVE THEREBETWEEN; (D) A PLURALITY OF STRETCHERS EACH CONNECTING TOGETHER ADJACENT LEGS, SAID STRETCHERS HAVING TUBULAR END PORTIONS POSITIONED OVER SAID STUDS WITH AN INSIDE SURFACE OF EACH TUBULAR END PORTION IN CONTACT WITH THE RIBS ON THE CORRESPONDING STUD; AND (E) AN ADHESIVE MATERIAL POSITIONED IN SAID GROOVES BETWEEN ADJACENT RIBS BONDING TOGETHER SAID STUDS AND SAID TUBULAR END PORTIONS. 